Garden Route Fire Watch

08/01/2026

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 – 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘆 – 𝗔𝗮𝗹𝘄𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹, 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝗩𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗮𝘀, 𝗡𝟮 – 𝟴 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝟐𝟎:𝟎𝟎

𝑰𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒍 𝑩𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚
Fire crews remain fully deployed in all fire affected and vulnerable areas – Aalwyndal, Island View, Vakansieplaas, Num Num, Sonskynvallei, Hartenbos Heuwels, Renosterbos. No down scaling of resources are taking place. During today’s briefings it was emphasized that the main focus points will be tending to any areas showing smouldering embers and hotspots, which was successfully implemented. From approximately 14:00 today, after the wind potency picked up, several flare-ups and fire spread were experienced. Firefighting efforts, including the deployment of aerial firefighting (2 helicopters, 1 spotter and 1 bomber) throughout the afternoon effectively secured these areas. Bulldozers were utilized to assist making fire breaks. Wind direction and potency is still creating challenges conditions. NO evacuations were necessitated in more than 24 hours.Throughout the course of the afternoon, additional resources have been dispatched. This includes multiple water sources, including refilling with grey water from the regional wastewater works, additional water tankers, farmers associations from all over the greater Mossel Bay with water resources. Additional firefighting resources have also been secured from Oudsthoorn, George and Hessequa Municipality.
Please follow the Mossel Bay Municipality official channels - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaObfDbBadmjaxmERb0d
https://www.facebook.com/mosselbaymun/
Garden Route District Municipality

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 – 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘆 – 𝗔𝗮𝗹𝘄𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹, 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝗩𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗮𝘀, 𝗡𝟮 – 𝟴 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝟐𝟎:𝟎𝟎
𝑰𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒍 𝑩𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚
Fire crews remain fully deployed in all fire affected and vulnerable areas – Aalwyndal, Island View, Vakansieplaas, Num Num, Sonskynvallei, Hartenbos Heuwels, Renosterbos. No down scaling of resources are taking place. During today’s briefings it was emphasized that the main focus points will be tending to any areas showing smouldering embers and hotspots, which was successfully implemented. From approximately 14:00 today, after the wind potency picked up, several flare-ups and fire spread were experienced. Firefighting efforts, including the deployment of aerial firefighting (2 helicopters, 1 spotter and 1 bomber) throughout the afternoon effectively secured these areas. Bulldozers were utilized to assist making fire breaks. Wind direction and potency is still creating challenges conditions. NO evacuations were necessitated in more than 24 hours.Throughout the course of the afternoon, additional resources have been dispatched. This includes multiple water sources, including refilling with grey water from the regional wastewater works, additional water tankers, farmers associations from all over the greater Mossel Bay with water resources. Additional firefighting resources have also been secured from Oudsthoorn, George and Hessequa Municipality.
Please follow the Mossel Bay Municipality official channels - https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaObfDbBadmjaxmERb0d
https://www.facebook.com/mosselbaymun/
Garden Route District Municipality

07/01/2026

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 – 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘆 – 𝗔𝗮𝗹𝘄𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹, 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝗩𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗮𝘀, 𝗡𝟮 – 𝟳 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟔 – 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬

𝑰𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒍 𝑩𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚
(𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑝 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒)
• Active firefighting continues in Aalwyndal and surrounds, with crews attending to flare‑ups.
• The spread earlier today to Num Num (northeastern flank) has been contained.
• Other flanks of the fire is also contained, with active firefighting still underway to contain the northwestern flank (top of Aalwyndal).
• Crew are deployed, monitoring and managing flare-ups.
• Aerial firefighting resources deployed and resulting firefighting effort have been effective.
• At present, no structures are in danger due to the fire.
• The public is urged to be cautious and avoid the Aalwyndal area and allow those affected by the fire to deal with their loss in private.
• A dedicated bank account is in the process of being opened for donations, and details will be shared as soon as possible

Western Cape's Provincial Minister of Mobility, Isaac Seleko, alongside the Speaker of the Mossel Bay Municipal Council, Alderlady Venolea Fortuin, Executive Mayor Dirk Kotzé, Alderman Cliffie Bayman (Executive Deputy Mayor), Alderman Niklaas Booisen (Portfolio Chairperson Community Services) and Councillor Stefan Botha (Ward 7 - affected area) visited the Joint Operations Centre today, for a briefing on the status quo. They were address by Portfolio Chair for Community Safety, Councillor Leon van Dyk.

06/01/2026

‼️ 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 & 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 – 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝗩𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗮𝘀 & 𝗔𝗮𝗹𝘄𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹 – 𝟲 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝟭𝟵:𝟮𝟬 - Issued by Mossel Bay Municipality

🚫 Traffic Alert: Road closures remain in place on Rooikat Street and Skilpad Street, Aalwyndal, due to active firefighting operations.
🚷 Evacuation Notice: Residents in Island View, Vakansieplaas, and Aalwyndal are being evacuated. The public is urged to remain calm and follow instructions from emergency personnel.
✅ Volunteer Access: Only accredited volunteers, coordinated through structured groups supporting fire crews, are permitted to enter the area.
🏠 Structures & Vehicles: Several structures and vehicles have been confirmed alight. Fire crews are actively engaged in suppression and protection efforts.
🛡️ Additional Resources: Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has called for support from Hessequa and George municipalities.
📍 Joint Operations Centre: A Joint Operations Centre has been activated to coordinate firefighting and evacuation efforts.
🎁 Donations: Donations must not be brought to the fire scene. Please deliver them to the Mossel Bay Fire Station (corner of Schoeman Street and Louis Fourie Road).
ℹ️ Further official updates will follow as the situation develops. Please rely only on municipal channels.

09/10/2025

Update:
𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝟬𝟮: 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗮, 𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟵 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 @ 𝟭𝟴𝗵𝟬𝟬

The Gouna fire outside Knysna is contained. Firefighters and the landowner are currently busy with mopping up operations.

A helicopter was also activated by SanParks whose land was also affected.

If you spot a veld or wildfire, please report it immediately to the GRDM Emergency Call Centre at 044 805 5071 or via WhatsApp at 081 709 5193

Issued by GRDM Communications

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝟬𝟭: 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗮, 𝗞𝗻𝘆𝘀𝗻𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟵 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 @ 𝟭𝟯𝗵𝟭𝟱

Garden Route District Municipality firefighters have responded to a call for assistance regarding a prescribed burn that has become uncontrolled in Gouna, Knysna. Gouna is about 6km north of Knysna, 11km east of Rheenendal. Fire crews are currently en route to the scene.

If you spot a veld or wildfire, please report it immediately to the GRDM Emergency Call Centre at 044 805 5071 or via WhatsApp at 081 709 5193

Issued by GRDM Communications